Slug casting machine



Jan. 2, 1934. s, HOLT SLUG CASTING. MACHINE Filed July 18, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR W A40; [11% PM W V/ A W326i? Jan. 2, 1934. s. HOLT Y 1,941,748

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR M M JWM W A TTOR Jan. 2, 1934. s. HOLT 1,941,748

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Him 123M? I J6 J4 Mm MENTOR J J5 B'Y W /M Patented Jan. 2, 1934 SLUG CASTING MACHINE Samuel Holt, Brooklyn,

N. Y., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application July 18, 1932. Serial No. 623,141

18 Claims.

This invention relates to slug casting machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in United States Letters Patcut to O. Mergenthaler, No. 436,532, wherein cir culating matrices are released from a magazine in the'order in which their characters are to appear in print and then assembled in line, the composed line transferred to a vertically movable line transporter or first elevator which descends .19 to'present the composed line to the face of a slotted mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype' against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the composed line thereafter elevated by the 15 first elevator and transferred therefrom to a distributing mechanism by which the matrices are returned'to the magazine from which they started. As the slugs are successively cast, they are ejected from the mold and discharged into 2 0 a receiving galley, wherein they are assembled side by side in a row or column under the infiu ence of a periodically operated stacking device. The .present invention is more particularly concerned with the, stacking of the slugs in the 25 galley, and has for an object to provide a slug stacking mechanism of simple construction and one which will be thoroughly efficient in operation. 1

A further object of the invention is to pro- 3Q vide what may be termed a single-action slug stacking mechanism, i. e., a stacking mechanism which will be operated but once during each cycle of the machine.

A still further-object of the invention is to ,35 provide a slug stacking mechanism which may be attached readily to machines now in use without necessitating any substantial alteration of the standard parts of those machines.

carrying out the foregoing objects, it is 419 proposed to mount the slug stacker on the vise frame of the machine and to operate it by the first elevator as the latter ascends from its lowermost or casting position to its uppermost or line transferposition. The operation of the stackeris effected by a cam plate secured to the first elevator and adapted to engage with one arm of a bail member pivotally mounted on the vise-frame, and whose other arm is connected to the stacker lever by a long link arranged behind the first elevator slide. The slug stacker lever is maintained in its normal position by a stop in the form of a bracket secured to the vise frame and arranged to be engaged by an adjust ing screw carried by the head of the stacker .55 lever. Pivotally secured to this stop bracket is an interponent which may be moved manually into and out of active position between, said bracket arm and the adjusting screw on the stacker lever, whereby the stroke of the said lever may be varied at will. 9

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, but obviously many changes and variations may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention'is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, ex,- cept insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a linotype machine, equipped with the improved slug stacking mechanism, and showing the first elevator in its normal position of rest;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the first elevator in its lowermost or casting position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but showing the first elevator as approaching its uppermost or transfer position; I

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, showing the slug stacker in its inactive position when set for stack ing thin slugs;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows in that figure;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the relation of the parts as the first elevator begins to ascend;

Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views illustrating the adjustability of the connecting link between the stacker lever and the bail; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4, showing in detail one of the eccentric connections by means of which the connecting link is adjusted.

As usual, the mold in which the slug is cast is mounted in the rotatable disc 1, which locates it first in a horizontal position for the casting of the slug, and then in a vertical position for the 100 ejection of the slug. While the mold occupies its horizontal position, the line transporter or first elevator 2 (to which the composed line of matrices has been transferred from the assembling elevator) descends to present the line thereto for casting. After the'casting of the slug, the transporter first ascends to its uppermost or line transferring position, Where the line of matrices is transferred to the distributing mechanism, and then descends to its intermediate or line receiving position (as shown in Fig. 1) to complete one cycle of operation.

During the ascent of the line transporter from casting position to transfer position, the mold disc 1 is rotated to locate the mold in a vertical position for the ejection of the slug. The ejector blade is then moved forward against the rear edge of the slug to expel the latter from the mold cavity, the slug passing through the vertically disposed guide chute 3 into the galley 4. After the slug has been delivered to the galley, the slug stacker lever 5 is rocked about its pivot 6 to advance the column of slugs 7 to the left in the galley and out of the path of the slug next to be delivered. The galley 4 is supported in an inclined position at the front of the machine by brackets secured to the hinged vise frame 0, the galley having a front ledge 8 to arrest the slugs in operative relation to the stacker.

As thus far described, the parts and their mode of operation, except as hereinafter pointed out, are or may be the same as embodied in the commercial linotype machines, and therefore require no further description.

Coming now to the present invention: The slug stacker lever 5 is of such shape that when its stacking face lies in or slightly beyond (to the left of a vertical plane passing through the pivot 6, the center of weight of the lever will still be at the right of said plane and hence capable of rocking the lever back to its normal position. The stacker lever 5 is pivotally connected, as at 5 to one end of a long link 9 extending horizontally across the vise frame behind the line transporter 2, and which is pivotally connected at its other end, as at 10, to one (a short) arm 11 of a bail member 12. The other (a longer) arm 13 of the bail member 12 is connected to the arm 11 by a cross member 14 pivotally mounted in a bracket 15 rigidly secured to the vise frame. At its free end, the long arm 13 of the bail member 12 is provided with a pivotally mounted flipper 16, adapted when free to rest upon a stop flange 18 formed on the arm (see Fig. 6).

Secured to the line transporter, as by set screws 20, is a cam plate 21 having its upper edge portion 22 inclined downwardly toward the left, and its lower edge portion 23 inclined downwardly toward the right, the two edge portions forming a continuous cam surface with its high point 24 about midway of the length of the plate 21. These inclined edge portions of the cam plate 21 are adapted to engage the flipper 16 during the vertical movements of the transporter 2 and actuate the stacker lever 5, as will presently be described.

In order to support the stacker lever 5 in its normal position of rest, a bracket 25 is secured to the vise frame 0 adjacent the right hand end of the galley 4, an arm 26 of the bracket serving as a stop against which an adjusting screw 27 located in the head of the stacker lever 5 is adapted to bear. An interponent 28, pivotally mounted on the arm 26, as at 29, and provided with a handle 30, is adapted manually to be rocked about its pivot and placed between the inner face of the bracket arm and the adjusting screw 27, thereby serving as a simple means for varying the stroke of the stacker lever at will for stacking slugs of different thicknesses.

It has already been stated that the slug stacking mechanism is made in the form of an attachment so that it may be utilized in connection with machines already in use. In attaching this mechanism to existing machines, however, it

sometimes happens that the parts are not accurately located, and for this reason means are provided for making a slight initial adjustment of the parts. To this end, the intermediate link 9 is preferably connected to the stacker lever 5 and the arm 11 of the bail member 12 by eccentric pins 31, although one adjustable connectionmight suflice. Since both connections are the same, only one of them will be described, but the same reference numerals will apply to both connections throughout the description to follow.

As illustrated in Figure 9, which is an enlarged view of the connection 5* between the link 9 and the stacker lever 5, the pin 31 comprises a head portion 32, an eccentric portion 33 and a shank 34, the latter being adapted to seat rotatably in a cavity 35 formed in the body of lever 5. The shank 34 is formed with an annular groove 36 adapted to be engaged by the end of a set screw 37 carried by the stacker lever 5 for the purpose of locking the pin in set position. 1

As diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the adjustment afforded by the eccentric con nections 5 and 10 permits a variation in the normal stroke of the stacker lever 5. Thus, Fig. 7 illustrates the normal throw of the stacker lever 5 when the opposite ends of the link 9 are con-. nected with the high portions of the eccentrics 33 facing downwardly, the throw being indicated by the lines 0: and :0 Fig. 8, on the other hand, illustrates the throw of the stacker lever 5 when the high portions of the eccentrics face upwardly, the throw being indicated by the lines y and y It will be noted that in both Figs. '7 and 8 the initial position of the stacker lever 5 is the same (in other words, that the lines a: and y are coincident), but that the position of said lever at the end of its active stroke differs in the two cases by the distance between the lines 11: and y Hence, when the parts have been attached to the machine, if the normal throw of the stacker lever 5 is too short or too long, this may be corrected by the adjustment of one or both of the eccentric connections 5 and 10 at opposite ends of the connecting link 9. 1,

The operation of the parts is as follows: As the line transporter 2 ascends after the casting operation to deliver the composed line of matrices to transfer position, the cam 21 is raised therewith, its upper inclined edge 22 engaging with the arm 19 of the flipper 16 and tending to rotate the latter in a counterclockwise direction. However, since rotation of the flipper 16 in thatdirection at this time is prevented by the engagement of the edge 17 thereof with the stop flange 18 formed on the end of the arm 13 of the bail member 12, the flipper is caused to follow along the cam edge 22 and therefore rocks the bail member 12 about its pivot 14 (see Fig. 3). The rocking of the bail member 12 moves the short arm 11 thereof toward the left, and such move.- ment of the arm 11 is transmitted through the connecting link 9 to the stacker lever 5, whereby the active or slug advancing stroke of the lever is effected. The active stroke of the stacker lever 5, therefore, results from the flipper arm 19 rid--v ing over the surface 22 of the cam 21, but when said arm passes the high point 24 of thecam, the weight of the lever 5 and that of the long arm 13 of the bail member 12 acts to return these parts to their original positions, such return taking place as the flipper arm 19 runs along the lower inclined edge 23 of the cam 21. Just before the stacker lever has been returned completely to its normal position, the flipper arm 19 runs. off the edge 23 of the cam 21 as the latter is carried on up by the line transporter 2 (see the dotted lines in Fig. 3).-

When the line'transporter 2 later descends to line receiving position (as shown in Fig. l), the lower edge 21 of the cam (which extends further to the left than the upper edge 21") engages the top edge of the flipper arm 19 and rotates the flipper 16 in a clockwise-direction out of the way, and as the transporter continues its downward movement, the flipper rides freely over the front face of the cam 21 (see Figs. 1 and 5), Later, when the transporter descends to casting position, the cam zl. is carried outof engagement with the flipper 16 altogether, which then is returned by its'own weight to its original position (see Figs. 3 ands) Consequently, during the descent of the line transporter, the stacker lever 5 remains in its original or normal position of rest unaffected by such movement of the transporter.

With the foregoing construction and arrangement of the parts, the complete reci rocation of the slug stacker lever is effected during the ascent of the line transporter only, its operation being carried out rapidly, yet smoothly and evenly, during both its active and inactive strokes. Moreover its operation takes place only once during each cycle of operation of the machine.

When very thin slugs are being cast, it is not necessary for the stacker lever 5 to move the same The stroke of the stacker head is thus shortened by a distance equal to the thickness of the interponent 28.

The improved stacking mechanism, aside from being simple in construction and comprising a minimum of parts, is particularly efficient in operation, since the movements of the slug stacker lever are carried out smoothly and evenly and without unnecessary lost or idle motion. In prior constructions, by way of contrast (wherein the slug stacker lever is operated from the justifying devices), the operation is rather violent and jerky, and moreover takes place twice as often as is required, owing to the two-stage operation of the justifying devices. In other .prior constructions, wherein the slug stacker lever is operated by the line transporter, such operation is slow, being dependent upon the ascent of the transporter for its movement in one direction, and .upon the descent of the transporter to permit of its return by spring or other means to its normal position. The improved mechanism possesses the added advantage of being readily applicable to existing machines, whether equipped with justifying devices or not.

. It may also be noted that, since all of the parts are mounted on or carried by the vise frame, the latter is free to be swung to and from its operative position without interference with the slug stacking mechanism. These and other advantages will I be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In or for a slug casting machine equipped with a movable line transporter and having a 3 galley to receive and hold a column of slugs, the

combination or a reciprocable device for stacking the slugs in the galley, andmeaus actuated by the line transporter for operating said stacking device, said means acting in. response to the movement of the transporter in one direction only to effect a. complete reciprocation-of the stacking device. y Y

2. In or for a slug casting machine equipped with a movable line transporter and having a galley to receive and hold a column of slugs, the combination of a reciprocable device for stacking the slugs in the. alloy, and means actuated by the line transporter for operating said stacking device, said means acting to operate the stacking device during movementoi the transporter in one direction without eflecting'the operation thereof during movement 01 the transporter in the opposite direction.

. s. In or tor a slug casting machine equippe with a movable line transporter and havins-a galley to receive and hold. a column oi slugs, the combination on: reciprocable device for stacking the slugs in the galley, and means. actustedby the transporter for effecting the active stroke of the stacking device during a partial movement of the transporter in one direction and forefloctins the inactive stroke or the stacking device during continued movement of the transporter in the same direction.

4. In or for a slug castingmachine. equipped with a movable line transporter .and'having a galley to receive and hold a column of slugs, the combination or a reciprocable device for stocking the slugs in the galley, and means actuated by the transporter for effecting the active stroke of the stacking device during a partial movement of the transporter in one direction and for offecting the inactive stroke of the stacking device during continued movement of the transporter in the same direction, said means being unaffected by the movement of the transporter in the opposite direction.

5. A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the stacking device is actuated only during an upward movement of the line transporter.

6. In or for a slug casting machine equipped with a movable line transporter and having a galley to receive and hold a column of slugs, a. slug stacking mechanism including a slug stacker lever pivotally mounted on the machine frame, a bail member also pivotally mounted on the machine frame, an intermediate connecting link pivoted at one end to the stacker lever and at the opposite end to one arm of the bail member, and a cam plate carried by the line transporter so as periodically to be brought into engagement with a second arm of the bail member to rock the latter about its pivot and thus to operate the slug stacker lever.

7. A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim '6, characterized by the fact that the slug stacker lever is actuated by the cam plate only during the movement of the line transporter in one direction.

8. A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the second arm of the bail member is provided with a flipper adapted to be engaged by the cam plate carried by the line transporter, said flipper being pivotally mounted on the bail arm and adapted to rock freely about its pivot through 9. A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the second arm of the bail member is provided with a flipper adapted to be engaged by the'cam plate carried by the line transporter, said flipper being pivotally mounted on the bail arm and adapted to rock freely aboutits, pivot through and wherein the cam. plate engages the flipper to rock the bail member about its pivot during the upward movement of the line transporter.

10. A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the second arm of the bail member is provided with a flipper adapted to be engaged by the cam plate carried by the line transporter, said flipper being pivotallymounted on the bail arm and adapted to rock freelyabout its pivot through 90, and wherein the engagement of the cam plate with the flipper during the downward movement of the line transporter rocks the flipper idly about its pivot.

11. A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim 6, characterized by the fact'that the second arm of the'bail member isprovided with a flipper adapted to be engaged by the cam plate carried by the linetransporter, said flipper being pivotally mounted on the bail arm and adapted to rock freely about its pivot through 90, and wherein the cam plate engages the flipper to rock the bail member about its pivot during the upward movement of the line transporter, and wherein the engagement'of the cam plate with the flipper during the downward movement of the line transporter rocks the flipper idly-about its pivot. 12. A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the link connecting the slug stacker lever to the bail member is adjustably attached to at least one of said elements, whereby the stroke of the stacker lever may be varied. r I

13. A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the slug stacker lever is such that its inactive stroke will be effected by its own weight. I

14.v A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the active stroke of the slug stacker lever is effected by the movement of the line transporter and that the inactive stroke of said lever is efiected by the weight of the lever itself.

15. A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim 6, wherein the cam plate for actuating the slug stacker lever is fashioned with two inclined surfaces, one adapted to impart a steady and gradual active stroke to the slug stacker lever, and the other to effect a steady and gradual inactive stroke of said lever.

16. A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim 6, including adjustable means for deter mining the inactive position of the slug stacker lever.

17. A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim 6, including a stop also mounted on the machine frame for determining the inactive position of the slug stacker lever. V

18. A slug stacking mechanism as set forth in claim 6, including a stop also mounted on the machine frame for determining the inactive posie 1 

